Definition of CATACOMB

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About forty Christian catacombs have been found near the roads that once led into Rome. After the decline of the Roman empire these cemeteries were forgotten, not to be rediscovered until 1578. Catacomb has come to refer to different kinds of underground chambers and passageways. The catacombs of Paris are abandoned stone quarries that were not used for burials until 1787. The catacombs built by a monastery in Palermo, Sicily, for its deceased members later began accepting bodies from outside the monastery; today you may wander through looking at hundreds of mummified corpses propped against the catacomb walls, dressed in tattered clothes that were once fashionable.

Examples of catacomb in a Sentence

explored the catacombs looking for evidence about burial customs of that ancient society

Recent Examples on the Web Capuchin Catacombs, Palermo, Italy Of all the catacombs in the world, from Salzburg to Paris, none are quite as creepy as Sicily’s Catacombe dei Cappucini (Capuchin Catacombs). — Caitlin Morton, Condé Nast Traveler, "Creepy Catacombs, Islands of Dolls, and 18 Other Terrifying Places for Thrill Seekers," 4 Sep. 2019 Inland sites are also at risk, including Kom el-Shouqafa, catacombs dating back to the 2nd century A.D. with architectural stylings inspired by ancient Egypt. — Washington Post, "Rising seas threaten Egypt’s fabled port city of Alexandria," 30 Aug. 2019 The Haunted Graveyard: Lake Compounce hosts a terrifying mile-long journey through darkly glittering catacombs to an eerie graveyard, to a vampire’s haunt, to a witch’s lair, then onto a misty lake and an ancient temple. — Camila Vallejo, courant.com, "Where are the haunted houses in Connecticut? Here’s an early list," 22 Aug. 2019 Some sections of the miles-long catacombs have been rarely explored, and experts believe more remain undiscovered. — Meghan Miner Murray, National Geographic, "9 of Europe’s underground marvels," 2 Aug. 2019 The scene ends with Jon's candle blowing out and cold air (usually a sign that White Walkers are near) filtering into the catacomb. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "A New Game of Thrones Teaser Shows Jon Snow, Arya, and Sansa Together at Winterfell," 14 Jan. 2019 This tour will bring you to a selection of Rome's catacombs going back to the first century. — Maresa Manara, Condé Nast Traveler, "15 Best Tours in Rome," 4 Mar. 2018 In the past, Airbnb has offered some pretty exciting one-off stays: There was a night in Paris's catacombs, a stay at Abbey Road Studios, and an overnight at Guinness's Dublin Storehouse. — Meredith Carey, Condé Nast Traveler, "Spend the Night on the Great Wall of China, Thanks to Airbnb," 2 Aug. 2018 The place feels like a living, breathing being, with various catacombs and vaults and catwalks that disobey the laws of gravity. — Reif Larsen, The Seattle Times, "LA Reverential: A City’s Chill Spots," 1 Aug. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'catacomb.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.